Care with comfort

Without hesitation, Micheline Steele provides an emphatic rave review of her extensive experience with virtual care.

“It changed my life,” says the 64-year-old.

For years, crippling chronic pain curtailed every aspect of life for Micheline. An avid fitness enthusiast, even gentle exercise was out of the question. So too were simple household tasks – baking, housework, gardening.

I couldn’t do normal things for any length of time. I couldn’t sit without props. The pain would take over and I’d have to lie down. My life was turned upside down. There was so much grief for the life I thought I would lead.”

Micheline lives with myofascial pain syndrome, a chronic muscular pain disorder that affects any skeletal muscles in the body caused by inflammation in the connective tissues that cover the muscles (fascia). For Micheline, the syndrome mostly impacts her neck and shoulders. She tried valiantly to “patch together” her own care - physiotherapy, mindfulness, medication and other remedies – with little to no effect.

It wasn’t until she was referred to the Pain Management Program at St. Joseph’s Health Care London that Micheline could begin to break the pain cycle and reclaim her life. Yet the program’s highly specialized team of physicians, nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, social worker and pharmacist would have largely remained out of reach without virtual care.

While appointments with her pain management physician were usually in person, group therapy and education, and sessions with the psychologist, pharmacist and others were held virtually. Without the virtual care option, Micheline would not have benefited from the comprehensive range of services crucial in pain management.

“There was no way I could have driven for an hour, sat in a class in who-knows-what chair, and driven an hour back,” explains Micheline, who lives in Sarnia. “It just wouldn’t have been possible.  It would have actually been counterproductive. “

Equally important as the care and education Micheline received was the connections she made with other patients through the virtual group therapy sessions.

“I built real relationships with the other patients. In fact, the sense of connection likely wouldn’t have happened if I had to be in person because I would have been so distracted by my pain. Virtually, I could sit in my comfortable chair, be comfortable, be there, be focused. 

There was a connection from the start. The virtual format did not limit that at all.”

Such connections, adds Micheline, is vital for those struggling with chronic pain.

“With chronic pain comes mental health issues because your life has changed so much, and you can get very down. Being able to easily connect with people in a similar situation helped my mental health.”

For those who may be wary of virtual care or daunted by the technology, Micheline’s advice is to “give it a chance.”

“It’s not as scary as you think,” she says. “Take advantage of the support available to help you. You’ll see how easy it really is.”

While Micheline is tech savvy, she wasn’t always, and she understands the reluctance of some people, particularly older adults, to participate in virtual care. They may be wary about the effectiveness of such an appointment.

“The combination of in person care when it’s needed and virtual care is complete care,” says Micheline. “There is so much that can be done without leaving your home.”

Micheline has made great strides since becoming a patient of the Pain Management Program and is now a care partner, sharing her story and helping to shape care at St. Joseph’s. She is a member of the Virtual Care Partner Council, providing input from the perspective of care partners regarding all aspects of virtual care at both St. Joseph’s and London Health Sciences Centre. Making it possible to provide her invaluable input is the ability to do so virtually.  Micheline can give back without leaving home.